Eric Chavez

How will Cashman address his aging team? Will he attempt to go younger or will he stick with his older guns? Will he attempt to deal the virtually untradeable A-Rod? Will he re-sign Nick Swisher? As usual, the longtime GM didn’t disclose his plans.

“(Rodriguez’s benching) had nothing to do with anything but what I felt was our best opportunity that day,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I just think he was one of our guys that was struggling, like a lot of our other guys.”

Alex Rodriguez started the Yankees’ biggest game of the year on the bench. After being pinch-hit for in Games 3 and 4 against the Baltimore Orioles, the $275 million third baseman was removed from the starting lineup for Game 5 on Friday.

He has to give a lineup change serious consideration. It’s not about ego at this point. It’s about surviving and advancing. Chavez could launch a homer or two over the right-field porch, and there’s little doubt that Ibanez would hit the ball hard.

When the thunder and lightning doesn’t happen — it may not against the better pitchers they’ll face in the ALDS — it would be a comfort for Girardi to know that the Yankees can still generate some high, crooked numbers without leaving the yard.